Shloka 11

अलकापतेः तपः-लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा च वरप्राप्तिः / The Lord of Alakā: Austerity, Liṅga-Establishment, and the Receiving of a Boon

Devanagari script

उन्मील्य नयने यावत्स पश्यति तपोधनः । तावदुद्यत्सहस्रांशु सहस्राधिकतेजसम्

Transliteration

unmīlya nayane yāvatsa paśyati tapodhanaḥ | tāvadudyatsahasrāṃśu sahasrādhikatejasam

Translation

As soon as the ascetic, rich in the power of austerity, opened his eyes and beheld it, he saw a radiance like the rising sun, blazing with splendour a thousandfold greater.

Word by Word

• उन्मील्य: having opened
• उन्मील्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√मील् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्), ‘having opened’

• नयने: the two eyes
• नयने: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन

• यावत्: as long as / until
• यावत्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/परिमाण-निर्देशक (as long as / until)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तपोधनः: the ascetic (one rich in austerity)
• तपोधनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्-धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (तपः धनं यस्य = whose wealth is austerity)

• तावत्: then / at that time
• तावत्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तावद्-निर्देशक (then/so much)

• उद्यत्: rising
• उद्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-√या (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘rising’

• सहस्रांशु: (one) with a thousand rays (sun-like)
• सहस्रांशु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र-अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (सहस्राः अंशवः यस्य = having a thousand rays)

• सहस्राधिकतेजसम्: of brilliance exceeding a thousand (fold)
• सहस्राधिकतेजसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र-अधिक-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सहस्रेण अधिकं तेजः यस्य/यत् = having brilliance exceeding a thousand)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘rising-sun’ radiance is a generic theophanic marker often used for Jyotirliṅga-style manifestations, but here it functions as a non-localized vision of Śiva’s tejas.

Significance: The verse valorizes tapas culminating in darśana: when the bound soul (paśu) turns outward from samādhi, the first encounter is overwhelming divine light (tejas) that purifies perception.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights that when the mind is refined by tapas, the seeker becomes fit for darśana of Shiva’s tejas—an overwhelming divine radiance that eclipses ordinary perception and points toward liberation (moksha) through grace and inner purity.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The imagery of a sun-like, surpassing brilliance aligns with Saguna Shiva’s accessible manifestation—Shiva revealing Himself as perceivable light and presence. In Linga worship, this is echoed as devotees contemplate the Linga as the luminous sign (liṅga) of the Supreme beyond form, yet graciously approachable through form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests steady dhyāna supported by tapas: disciplined living, mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and contemplative focus on Shiva as inner light—so that perception becomes capable of receiving divine darśana.